2016 Ford B Max — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Ford B Max passed 87.3% of its 41,136 recorded MOT tests. Against MPVs of a similar age (15.3% fail rate), the 2016 B Max comes out 2.6pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 9.6% of all tests — 5.1 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, wipers and coil spring — stop lamp alone was recorded 3,041 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.6% once past 150k — 2.6× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 5.0pp more often than petrol ones (17.1% vs 12.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.6% | 3,958 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.5% | 1,865 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.8% | 1,160 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.7% | 1,125 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.1% | 845 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 532 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 3,041 |
| 2 | Wipers | 872 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 789 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 749 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 682 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 659 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 23.9% | 9,826 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.4% | 5,112 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.6% | 3,137 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.2% | 2,157 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 1,358 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.5% | 613 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 16,431 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 18,789 | 14.5% |
| 60-90k | 4,908 | 19.8% |
| 90-120k | 829 | 25.7% |
| 120-150k | 130 | 20.8% |
| 150k+ | 34 | 20.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 35,330 | 12.0% |
| Diesel | 5,806 | 17.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,990 | 9.2% |
| 2022 | 8,230 | 11.9% |
| 2023 | 8,275 | 12.8% |
| 2024 | 8,281 | 14.4% |
| 2025 | 8,360 | 15.3% |
What to check before buying a 2016 B Max
On a 2016 B Max, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (2.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2016 Ford B Maxs pass their MOT?
87.3% of the 41,136 2016 Ford B Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Ford B Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.6% of tests, followed by tyres (4.5%).
Does the 2016 B Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.9% in the 0-30k band to 20.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 41,136 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.